ladybug

Max found a ladybug this morning. It landed on a cork-hot-pot-pad, providing Max the opportunity to carry it around to show everyone in the house what he had found. He watched it for quite some time, remarking how brave the ladybug was to be walking right on the outside edge of the circle. He was fiercely protective of the ladybug when Marty wanted to have a look-see. He was concerned when it landed on the floor and we couldn't seem to get it back onto our hands or the hot pad. I tricked the ladybug into crawling onto a piece of paper and took it to the table. Max watched it some more until the ladybug took flight. It seems no matter how many times has he seen a ladybug fly away, he is still amazed that they have wings.
Max, studying a ladybug last summer.This afternoon he went to his friend's birthday party. I was quite surprised when I picked him up to see that he had agreed to having his face painted. It was already half smudged off by the time I saw it, and I couldn't quite figure out what the drawing had been. As soon as I asked him, I already knew the answer. His face lit up and he cheerfully told me it was a ladybug!
Co-Inspectors, Max and buddy Kooper in October.As I was on my way for one last email check tonight before bed, I heard an odd sounding cry from the boys' room. Paul had just spent quite some time convincing Marty to go to sleep (and then fell asleep himself, on the floor), and I hesitated to go in, but the cry sounded urgent. It was Max, saying he needed a kleenex and help to blow his nose. The poor boy is totally stuffed right up. So bad that he gags when he tries to blow his nose. In the dim light, I caught a glimpse of something that made me worry that he was coming down with a terrible affliction. I almost had him off the top bunk and into better light before I realized what that was on his face that looked like a nasty bruise - the ladybug. Totally smudged by now, but one of those things that served to remind me that these days will pass all too quickly. My big 4-year old boy ... still not too big to cry out to me in need, yet strong enough, bold enough, confident enough to wear a ladybug on his face in front of all his peers. I hope he is well enough in the morning to go to yet another birthday party. Maybe he'll even find another ladybug.